Bayer’s finerenone met the primary endpoint in the Phase III FIND-CKD trial, significantly slowing kidney function decline in adults with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease.
Written By: Karthik Teja Macharla, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Bayer announced that the Phase III FIND-CKD study evaluating finerenone (Kerendia™) in adults with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) met its primary endpoint, showing a statistically significant reduction in kidney function decline compared with placebo when added to standard-of-care therapy.
The trial demonstrated a significant improvement in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope, defined as the mean annual rate of change in eGFR from baseline to Month 32. The eGFR slope is a validated surrogate endpoint used to predict long-term kidney outcomes and risk of kidney failure.
Finerenone was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with previous studies. Bayer plans to present the results at an upcoming scientific conference and submit the data to regulators to expand the indication of Kerendia to patients with non-diabetic CKD.
“Patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease experience progressive loss of kidney function and remain at high risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular disease,” said Hiddo L. Heerspink, Professor of Clinical Trials and Personalized Medicine at the University Medical Center Groningen and co-chair of the study’s executive committee. He added that the results show finerenone can help preserve kidney function across multiple non-diabetic CKD causes.
Dr. Christian Rommel, Global Head of Research and Development at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division, said the positive findings strengthen the growing body of evidence supporting finerenone in chronic kidney disease.
The FIND-CKD trial enrolled more than 1,500 adults with non-diabetic CKD, including cases linked to hypertension and chronic glomerulonephritis. Participants received finerenone 10 mg or 20 mg, or placebo, on top of maximum tolerated renin-angiotensin system–blocking therapy such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. Secondary endpoints included a composite cardio-kidney outcome of kidney failure, sustained ≥57% decline in eGFR, hospitalization for heart failure, or cardiovascular death.
Finerenone is a non-steroidal selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that blocks mineralocorticoid receptor overactivation, a pathway involved in kidney inflammation and fibrosis. The drug is already approved in more than 100 countries for treating CKD associated with type 2 diabetes and, in some markets, for heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%.
Reference
Finerenone meets primary endpoint in pivotal Phase III FIND-CKD study in patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease, 16 March 2026, Finerenone meets primary endpoint in pivotal Phase III FIND-CKD study in patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease
A Trial to Learn How Well Finerenone Works and How Safe it is in Adult Participants with Non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (FIND-CKD), ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05047263, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05047263
About the Writer
Karthik Teja Macharla, PharmD is a Pharm.D. graduate with a strong interest in clinical research, pharmacovigilance, and medical writing. In his words, he is passionate about converting complex medical information into clear, evidence-based scientific communication, committed to contributing to patient safety and advancing healthcare through accurate and impactful medical content.